Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-08
DAILY HERALD.
WILLIAM KISSANE. /.
What Major Horace Bell
Knows of Him.
THE NICARAGUA SCHEME.
uinister of Finance to Walker on
His Fillibustering Ex-
peditiOn.

Learning that Major Horace Bell had
known William Kissane, about whom
thare has been SO much talk recently,
representative of the HERALD called
upon him yesterday and asked for a his
4orv of Kissane. The Major was busy
in searching certain records which he
has carefully kept for number OF years,
bearing upon the subject, but he took
{ me 10 say that he had known Kissane
almost from his birth to the present
time, and would probably know him at
his death. The Major knows all about
his history, and knew that he was living
in Sonoma county under the name of
Rogers. In fact. he had said as much in
= history which he had writ
ten and published in the Golden
Era some years ago. The story
Of the Cleveland Leader, as telegraphed
and published was true, and Kissane, or
Rogers, was guilty of the atrocious crime
of burning q steamer and her cargo on
the Mississippi in 1851. The Major said
Kissane came to California shortly after
wards and lived under the name Of vii
liam X. Rogers, and had gone to Mica
raraa with Walker in 1856 on the fill
clustering expedition. During that ex
citing time Rogers, or Kissane, acted a.
oae Of Walkers counselors, and was
Minister of Finances.
To prove his assertions the Majol
showed several pieces of carefully pre-
served Nicaragua script, countersignet
by Rogers. These pieces of paper, pur-
porting to be good for $25 and $50, art
In themselves very interesting as relic'
of an expedition which for awhile KEEP
Ceutral America in turmoil. The Majol
remembered several incidents Of Rogers
career in Nicaragua, which, he thought
showed the character of him at tina
time.
During the siege of Granada
Rogers took On active part, ant
when fnally the city was takel
the churches were despoiled ant
the silver ornaments and service
were taken as booty. These were unde
the charge of the Minister of Finance
and were estimated to have been wortl
from $50, 900 to an amount almost equa
to half million Of dollars. This boot,
was never accounted for by kissane
who sold it in other places.
After the capitulation the fillibust
ers went on q regular spree. and mad
the place very uncomfortable for tn
natives. On the following night th
officers dressed themselves in the churcl
vestments, and marched in procession
about the streets. A coffin was procure
and labeled "Granada. This was car
ried in the procession, which was heade
by the worthy Minister Of Finance
Rogers, or Klssane. This coffin wa
carried to the burying ground where
was buried in the presence Of the multi
tude with q mock ceremony. and tn
services were read by a man now said
beliving in San Francisco. Rogers tinishe
the orgies of the day by becomin
drunk.
Major Bell said that he was not pre-.
ent at this scene but was sixty mile
away. He heard the full history after
wards and recorded it iD his work.
Another story of Rogers occurred t.
the Major who said that one of the mos
cowarliy murders ever committed wa
done by Rogers. Some prisoners hat
been captured among whom was yout
. mere boy. While the attention of al
was d,rected to the Others, the boy at
tempted to escape and was seen by Rog
srs who drew his pistol and fired at him
The boy made for the shrubbery but jus
~ he reached it he was hit and wounde
by the Minister of Finance. The bo
fell but Rogers was not satisfied and ra
to where the boy was lying and putin
his pistol to the boys head blew out hi
brains.
It was due to such men as Rogers
said Major Bell, whom Walker selecte
~ counsellors that the pro
iect was a failure. Whel
the fillibusters landed in Nicaragua
the were welcomed by the people wht
had invited them to come and wht
would have aided them in carrying ou
their plan. 'If it had not been," sait
Major Bell, "that Walker selected jus
such williams as Rogers, there would bt
tp-day an American State in Centra
America which would have been in {
prosperous condition." Aftsr the re
turn firm Nicaragua, Major Bell heard
that Rogers had settled up north neal
San Francisco, and has kept track of hi.
his movements ever since. He intendl
in the near future to write the full his
tory If Kissane's career in Nicaragua
which he has not forgotten in all thes'
years.